Arsenal will never have a better chance to win the title but Wenger must strengthen.... laughing-stock Bendtner is NOT the answer

Jose Mourinho is desperate to get his mind games going — but no-one is biting. Saying Manchester City have the best squad in the league may be true, but when he can bring Oscar and Willian off the bench he’s hardly struggling. He was at his old best against Southampton, making great subs and turning the game.

Let the games begin: Jose Mourinho is well versed in the mental side of management at Chelsea

2 Not many capital gains for Laudrup

It must be starting to worry Michael Laudrup how badly his Swansea team have done since they won the Capital One Cup in February. Since then they’ve played 31 league games, won only seven and lost 15 — almost half. They were my tip to break into the top six after spending £20million in the summer. Last year Laudrup was using Brendan Rodgers’ team. Now he has his own — and things have not run as smoothly.

Piling on the pressure: Fernandinho opened the scoring for Manchester City against Swansea

3 Fine Nick, Bendtner

Everyone said Arsene Wenger should have signed more players in the summer. Arsenal will never get a better chance to win the league and they need to strengthen. Nicklas Bendtner popped up just at the right time against Cardiff, but of course he’s not the long-term answer. Fair play to him, though. He’s been a laughing stock in English football and now he’s put himself in the shop window with a couple of goals this season.

Not the answer: Nicklas Bendtner scored for Arsenal against Cardiff but is not a long-term solution

4 Lambert's joy when Villa hit the road

Just when you think Sunderland have turned a corner, they get beaten at home. And what a result for Paul Lambert. You usually say at this time of year that home form will keep a team up, but Aston Villa must be wishing they could play all their games away from Villa Park. Their players seem to shrink in front of their own crowd instead of feeding off the atmosphere. They’ve won six league games this season, four of them away — that says it all.

Winner: Gabby Agbonlahor scored the only goal as Aston Villa beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light

5 Tragic of the Cup

We’ll find out this weekend how much the FA Cup still means to the big clubs. I can only see key players being rested. Back when I was a kid, the competition meant everything. Now managers up and down the country will be telling their star players to take four or five days off. The Premier League has become so important, with the sums of money involved for staying up or qualifying for Europe, that the poor old FA Cup has been overshadowed.

Taking it seriously: Wigan won the FA Cup last season but it's not a priority for many Premier League clubs

6 Sherwood keeps the home flag flying

I had a feeling Tim Sherwood would manage without any fear, but I didn’t believe he would get this Tottenham team flowing so quickly. He is taking risks with the system, giving youngsters a chance and it’s paying off. He might have to be careful, though — if he carries on people might think we have good managers in this country!

Easy does it: Tim Sherwood has taken to management at Tottenham like a duck to water